St. Charles, Mo. - Haleigh Lankster poured in 20 points but the top-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers ousted the fifth-seeded Wichita State women's basketball team 61-44 Saturday afternoon at The Family Arena in the semi-finals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Lankster's output was countered by 21 points from MVC Player of the Year Jacqui Kalin and 18 from all-conference performer Lizzie Boeck.  Kalin and Boeck combined for six three-point baskets. 

Northern Iowa advanced to the MVC Finals and will face No. 3-seed Missouri State Sunday afternoon. 

The Shockers took an early lead as Lankster accounted for eight of WSU's first 14 points.  Her jumper at the 13:29 mark put Wichita St. on top 14-9 for the team's largest least of the day.  Jazimen Gordon's jumper in the lane with 8:13 left in the half gave WSU its final lead, 20-19.  Wichita State went through a prolonged dry spell after that, scoring just eight points over the next 14:20. 

Still, Lankster's scoring and WSU's defense kept the team within striking distance.  The Shockers forced 10 turnovers in the first half from a team that averaged just 13.7 miscues a game (7^th in the NCAA) entering the contest.  Then, midway through the second half, Lankster buried a jump shot, followed with a steal off the inbounds pass, and put in a layup to bring WSU within 42-38. 

Boeck and Kalin struck back with each hitting a three-pointer on successive possessions to give UNI a 10-point advantage.  The Panthers ended the game on a 19-6 run to advance to their second consecutive MVC Tournament Final.

Lankster finished with 20 points and four rebounds.  She connected on 9-of-17 field goal attempts (.529) while the rest of the team combined to shoot just 21.4% (9-of-42).  Chynna Turner and Jazimen Gordon each grabbed nine rebounds for WSU.  Gordon also added three blocked shots.

The Shockers now await a post-season bid from either the WNIT or the WBI.  Those tournament fields will be announced late Monday night.